Five infiltrators and a soldier were killed as army foiled a major infiltration bid in Tangdhar sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The prolonged operation continued through Monday as the security forces apprehend presence of more infiltrators in the area.

Defence spokesman said that three infiltrators were killed on Monday during massive search operation in the area. The first contact with the infiltrators had been established late on Sunday when the army shot dead two infiltrators. The more members of the infiltrators’ group had dispersed in the dense forest.

The spokesman said that search operations were in progress in the difficult mountainous area along Line of Control. During the gunfight a soldier was critically wounded. He was immediately evacuated from the area but succumbed to his injuries later.

Meanwhile, the normal life remained affected on fourth consecutive day in north Kashmir’s Bandipora town in response to killing of five terrorists in Shokhbaba village of Sumlar area.

Even as the security forces claimed that the slain terrorists belonged to Lashkar-e-Tayyeba outfit and were foreigners, Hizbul Mujahideen outfit on Monday claimed that they were local cadre of the outfit. The outfit also identified the slain terrorists.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and public transport traffic off the roads.

A shutdown was also observed in Tral town of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district against the killing of a Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Adnan in a brief gunfight with security forces on Sunday. A soldier was also injured in the counter terrorist operation while three civilian protesters were injured during post gunfight clashes and stone pelting near the gunfight area.